IBS Treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, affecting up to 20% of all UK adults.

It’s believed that 75% of people who have IBS never seek a doctor’s help. Of the minority who do, it accounts for 10% of all doctor’s visits and 50% of referrals to gastroenterologists.

• 1 in 5 UK adults suffers from IBS
• 10% of doctor’s visits are due to IBS
• 3 out of 4 people force themselves to live with their symptoms
• 50% of gastroenterologist referrals are due to IBS

In other words, IBS is a big problem.

Over the years, it’s had a variety of names: spastic colon, spastic bowel, mucus colitis, colitis, and functional bowel disease. It’s called ‘functional’ bowel disease because people who have IBS don’t have any obvious changes in bowel structure or other serious complications, and they rarely require hospitalisation. Nevertheless, IBS can significantly restrict a person’s lifestyle.

The most common pattern of IBS is diarrhoea alternating with constipation. Bowel movements (i.e. pooing) usually relieve the discomfort. Other common IBS symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain and spasms
• Gas
• Bloating
• Other abnormal bowel movements

There are lots of potential causes of IBS. Some of these include:

• Food sensitivities
• Lactose intolerance
• Malabsorption of nutrients
• Endometriosis
• Stress
• Mind-body interaction
• Hormone imbalances
• Environmental sensitivities

In 20% of cases, IBS is originally triggered by infection. These people are more likely to have diarrhoea-dominant IBS. The infection causes inflammation in the mucosal tissues (the gut lining), which stimulates immune and muscle changes. When the inflammatory response continues over time, the bowels learn to be over or under-reactive to stimuli.

In others, there’s usually no single cause for IBS. By using the functional medicine model, we aim to find the root of the problem in each person, working with him or her individually in response to their biochemical uniqueness.

Testing can be used to investigate the underlying causes of IBS. In our practice, we typically use three different approaches:

Comprehensive Digestive & Gastro-intestinal Survey

The Gastro-intestinal function analysis provides us a detailed insight into your digestive capacity and function. It enables us to see whether inflammation or Dysbiosis is present.

A Bacteria bio-survey looks at infections and pathogens including H.Pylori. These bacteria, yeast/fungi or parasites may be contributing to your gut complaint.

Food Intolerance Survey

There are countless food intolerance tests available on the market. While some of these tests can provide useful insights on occasion, we prefer to use elimination diets with clients—simply because they tend to yield better results.

When we feel a food intolerance test is warranted, we will conduct a comprehensive bio survey of up to 500 foods against your biological preference to identify particular foods that may be stressors.

SIBO Survey

SIBO stands for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. Put simply, it means a person has too much bacteria in their small intestine.

SIBO is viewed as one of the most common causes of IBS, especially the constipation-dominant type. We use a range of gastrointestinal bio surveys to highlight any major imbalances in gut flora

There are many dietary approaches that can work well for irritable bowel syndrome. Some examples include:

• A gluten-free diet
• A grain-free diet
• The specific carbohydrate diet
• A low histamine diet
• A gluten and dairy-free diet
• The low FODMAP diet
• The GAPS diet

We’re all different, so any diet for IBS needs to be tailored to the individual. Based on your clinical history and tests, for example, it may become clear that you require a low FODMAP diet with no grains, while another person would do better on the specific carbohydrate diet.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

IBS requires an approach that addresses both diet and lifestyle. Here’s where to start:

1. Do an elimination diet, using either our comprehensive elimination diet instructions or by implementing one of the diets mentioned above.
2. Start practising a relaxation technique such as meditation. It has been shown time and time again that invoking the relaxation response can alleviate (if not cure) IBS symptoms.
3. Start taking a probiotic, but bear in mind different probiotic strains are beneficial for different types of health issues.
4. Try taking some antimicrobial herbs such as oregano oil or berberine.
5. Minimise consumption of additives. Many additives in food—even foods that are supposedly healthy—can contribute to IBS symptoms. Examples include the emulsifier carrageenan, and the sugars maltitol and sorbitol.
6. Take digestive enzymes with meals. In some people this can alleviate discomfort and support healthy digestion.

The functional medicine model uses a systems-biology approach to understand the underlying causes of IBS. Some these include:

• Motility disorders
• Imbalances in the microflora, also known as dysbiosis
• Overgrowth of certain bacteria that are associated with systemic illness
• Inflammation of the gut lining
• Leaky gut causing systemic inflammation

In the functional medicine model, we also pay a lot of attention to the mental, spiritual and emotional aspects of people’s health. Our bodies are a reflection of what’s going on in our emotional life, so the importance of mindset cannot be underestimated.

Approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) address the way IBS patients experience, interpret, and respond to their symptoms. This can be helpful if you recognise yourself in any of the mindsets listed above.

New research indicates that the gut-brain axis plays a key role in digestive disorders, and the presence of psychological factors and central processing deficits contributes to symptom severity and disability.

So what does this mean in everyday life?

Find a stress-reducing practice that you enjoy. This could be tai chi, breath therapy, meditation, the Feldenkrais method, craniosacral therapy, grounding or yoga. You could also try CBT. Along with dietary changes, relaxation should be a key factor in reducing symptoms of IBS.

A visit to Mi Healthcare is more than an appointment—it’s a complete wellness experience. We aim to get to the root cause of your IBS symptoms, addressing them via a jointly agreed nutritional and lifestyle protocol.

Step 1: Pre-consultation

Enjoy a complimentary 15-minute chat. You’ll then receive a questionnaire and a food diary to fill in ahead of your session.

Step 2: Initial Consultation

Together we gather a detailed picture of your health, and further testing will be recommended if necessary. You’ll come away with a bespoke nutritional and lifestyle protocol.

Step 3: Follow-up Consultations

We ensure your progress through regular meetings. These give you the opportunity to talk about your experiences, review test results and make adjustments where necessary.